AT 7:15 I'LL ARE NARRATING A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM CALLED THE GIFT PART OF A WHOLE EVENING OF ACTIVITIES AT LAKE EOLA AND THE BAND SHELL. AS FAIRLY PREDICTABLE. WE HUNT FOR THE BARGAINS ON BLACK FRIDAY. THIS YEAR EVEN ON GRAY THURSDAY. AND WE GET SERIOUS ABOUT CHRISTMAS TREE SHOPPING STARTING TOMORROW. WESH 2'S MICHELLE MEREDITH IS LIVE AT THE TREE LOT IN COLLEGE PARK. THIS WEEKEND IS BLACK FRIDAY FOR TREE LOTS. WELL THEY TELL US AT THIS POINT WE HAVE RECOVERED FROM BLACK FRIDAY. MAYBE WE'VE GONE TO A CHRISTMAS PARTY OR TWO AND NOW WE'RE READY TO PICK OUT OUR TREE. THIS IS THE WEEKEND. THE SECOND WEEKEND AFTER THANKSGIVING. THE MOST POPULAR WEEKEND TO BUY A CHRISTMAS TREE, LOAD IT UP AND TAKE IT HOME. I'VE ALWAYS LOVED THE REAL ONES. GREW UP ON REAL TREES. RIGHT. ABSOLUTELY. GIRLS LOVE GETTING THEM AND DECORATING THEM. WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT IN THE WAY OF PRICES? THE BIG BOX STORES ARE LETTING THEM GO CHEAP. WAL MART IS SELLING CHRISTMAS TREES FOR AS LITTLE AS $18. THIS COUPLE BOUGHT ONE. FELT LIKE THEY HIT THE CHRISTMAS TREE LOTTO. A PRETTY GOOD DEAL. I'M JUST GLAD WE DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY 50. IF YOU GO TO YOUR FAVORITE LOT, EXPECT TO PAY $10 A FOOT. SO A SIX-FOOT TREE IS IN THE $60 RANGE. SEVEN FOOT, $70. BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMY THERE AREN'T AS MANY TREE LOTS AROUND. THE CHRISTMAS TREE PLACE IN COLLEGE PARK HAS SURVIVED. THE OWNER SAYS THE COMPETITION GOT FIERCE WHEN THE BIG BOX STORES GOT INTO THE GAME. THEY'LL USE A CHRISTMAS TREE AS A LOSS [ INAUDIBLE ] NICK SAYS THEY OFFER THE PERSONAL TOUCH. CUT THE TREE. FOLD THEM. DELIVER. IT'S DIFFICULT. BECAUSE UNLESS YOU HAVE A CLIENTELE OR CUSTOMER THAT IS LOOKING FOR THAT, AND IT'S NOT JUST A BUDGET CONSCIENCE DECISION, IT'S HARD TO COMPETE. BEND A BRANCH. IF IT POPS BACK IT'S FRESH. IF IT BREAKS, IT'S NOT. MAKE SURE TO CUT THE BASE SO THE TREE IS READY TO ABSORB WATER. AND FINALLY GET WATER IN THE STAND WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF CUTTING THE BASE SO THE SAP WON'T SEAL IT UP. THEY TELL US UNLESS YOU ARE GOING TO USE A PRESERVATIVE DON'T ADD ANYTHING LIKE SPRITE OR SUGAR BECAUSE IT REALLY DOESN'T HELP AND IT ATTRACTS ANTS.